The internet has created many benefits for today’s businesses. One of the most important is the advent of Internet-capable devices. The Internet of Things (IoT) brings many capabilities to businesses, including fast communication between devices, integrated usage, and optimized operations. These benefits can also be achieved for networked security, access control and other electronic systems. However, with this network comes new dangers to your operations, and some of those dangers are caused by power surges.

The information age has led to an astonishing number of innovations, including the Internet of Things — a growing trend affecting the day-to-day operations of a multitude of systems including surveillance, security and even systems like refrigeration and telephones. However, the growing trend of IoT devices means a concurrent growth in devices utilizing Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology. While PoE generally provides simpler and more cost-effective installations for networked system devices, it also has downsides. Namely, that a more connected system means more threat from damaging power surges.

Surge protectors serve one of the most important defensive functions for the many electrical and electronic systems that you use to help run your business. In the event of a damaging spike in power, whether from a lightning strike or a more common power surge, your surge protector will ensure that the surge does not reach your devices and damage or destroy them. As a vital part of their useful life, one of the responsibilities of surge protectors is to absorb a sudden rush of electrical power – even if it causes them to be severely damaged or go end of life. This is how they shield your more important business and security systems, and enable them to continue running without costly interruptions. In the event that a surge protector goes end of life, it will need to be replaced.

No matter the industry, electrical and electronic equipment plays a major role in the everyday ins and outs of maintaining business operations. Without power, security systems, refrigeration equipment, access control, point of sale, lighting systems, and other systems, simply can’t function. Expensive and essential equipment across every vertical market, from healthcare, to warehousing and sports and entertainment venues, is continually at risk due to unpredictable power surges. They can damage, degrade or destroy your systems, resulting in costly downtime and other financial losses, as well as compliance issues. Therefore, it’s key to implement these protective devices, and choose the right surge protection solutions that are best suited for your specific system requirements.

Surge protection starts with protecting your outdoor devices from damaging surges. When most people think about which devices need surge protection, they imagine a lightning strike hitting their security camera or light fixture and destroying it, perhaps even sending a massive surge along the network and damaging or destroying other essential devices. Though lightning strikes are a less common source of surges, considering the weather is a necessary part of choosing a surge protective device (SPD) to ensure the safety of your outdoor devices.